The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) launched on        25 January 2013 the Revised Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) Action Plan, which increased the target international assistance to USD76 million. This is a 17 per cent increase or USD11 million more than the original appeal of USD65 million.

Super Typhoon Pablo gravely affected a number of provinces in  Mindanao, particularly Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Agusan Del Sur and Surigao del Sur,  in December 2012.   

The assistance fund will be used to provide for the health and nutritional needs of the affected population, estimated at around 6.2 million and will also be utilized to build shelters for the survivors.

According to Ms. Luiza Carvalho, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Philippines, there is still a need for durable shelters to replace an approximate of 216,000 homes destroyed.  The new shelters will be built in relocation sites which will be identified by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) by the end of February this year.

According to UNOCHA a total of US27 million in funding has been received to date.

Further details on the Typhoon Pablo Action Plan may be accessed at the website, http://philippines.humanitarianresponse.info.

Philippine Ambassador to Australia Belen F. Anota hailed another positive achievement for the Philippine economy: a place among the world’s 100 freest economies according to the 2013 Index of Economic Freedom by the Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based think tank.

The Philippines’ inclusion in the list of the world’s 100 freest economies is a result of the government’s leadership and efforts to promote good governance, curb corruption and improve the country’s business climate,” Ambassador Anota said.

Using the Philippines tourism slogan, Ambassador Anota said that “it’s more fun in the Philippines, including doing business.”

The Philippines jumped ten notches in ranking, making it the 97^th freest in the world with an Economic Freedom Score of 58.2. In 2011, it ranked 107^th and had a score of 57.1.

Among Southeast Asian nations, the Philippines recorded the highest score improvement of 1.1 points, showing a trend of continuous growth over the past two years. This brings the country even closer to the world average score of 59.6 and above the Asia-Pacific regional average of 57.4.

The Heritage Foundation highlighted the country’s “notable improvements” in investment freedom and anti-corruption measures; high degree of resilience” of the Philippine economy which is on a “steady path of economic expansion” despite the global economic slowdown; and “legislative reforms pursued by the Aquino administration which enhance the entrepreneurial environment and develop a stronger private sector to generate broader-based job growth”. END

Philippine Ambassador to Australia Belen F. Anota welcomed Condé Nast Traveller’s (CNT) inclusion of the Philippines among the top 10 destinations to watch in 2013. 

“The inclusion of the Philippines among the top 10 destinations for 2013 is indeed welcome news.  We encourage our friends from Australia and other nationalities to visit our country as it is truly more fun in the Philippines,” Ambasador Anota said, citing the Philippines tourism slogan.

Condé Nast Traveller is a leading luxury travel magazine published by London-based Condé Nast Publications Ltd.

The magazine’s January 2013 online edition listed the Philippines among the top 10 destinations for 2013, along with Brazil, Amsterdam, The Congo, the Galapagos Islands, Kashmir, the Mayan Riviera in Mexico, New Zealand, Panama and Oman. 

The CNT write-up on the Philippines states that “the Philippines has around 7,000 of the most heavenly islands in the world.” 

Citing Bicol and Siargao, the article mentions that the country is “becoming particularly popular among serious divers, who come for the incredible underwater life, unspoilt coral gardens with rainbow-bright fish, green sea turtles and dugongs.”

Other recommended places to visit include the Bacuit Bay and other resorts in Palawan, Pamalican Island and the capital, Manila. 

The Philippine Department of Tourism recorded 3,830,723 visitor arrivals to the country for the period January to November 2012, an 8.73% increase compared to the previous year’s volume of 3,522,887 for the same months.  Visitors from Australia for the same period accounted for 163,270 of arrivals.

The Bureau of Immigration also reported that many foreign tourists who visited the country in 2012 opted to stay longer or beyond their visa validity.  From January to December 2012, the Bureau’s extension office processed and approved 172,055 applications for extension, 13% higher than the extensions granted in the previous year. END

The Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Honorary Consuls and Consuls General in Australia agreed on the schedule and conduct of 2013 Mobile Consular Missions during the annual consultation meeting between the Philippine Embassy, the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney, the offices of the Philippine attached agencies in Australia and the Philippine Honorary Consuls and Consuls General in Australia and Vanuatu held on 4 December 2012 at the Philippine Embassy.  

During the mobile missions, the Embassy will field personnel who will attend to the biometrics capture of Philippine ePassport applicants and administer the oath of allegiance to petitioners for dual citizenship.  

To ensure the orderly conduct of the Missions, ePassport applicants should pre-register and secure a appointment/slot with the Embassy on or before the deadlines indicated in the schedule below.  

Due to limited data capture equipment, walk-in applicants cannot be accommodated.  

The 2013 schedule and details for the mobile missions to the various Australian state/territory capitals follow:  

To pre-register/secure an appointment, an applicant should mail to the Philippine Embassy, 1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600 his duly accomplished ePassport Application Form (downloadable from www.philembassy.org.au) and the following supporting documents:  

1. Photocopy of data page of current passport

2. In case of change of name for married women, a copy of Report of Marriage or NSO-authenticated Marriage Certificate.

3. If applying for a new passport, a copy of Report of Birth or NSO-authenticated Birth Certificate.

4. If dual citizen, a photocopy of Identification Certificate, Oath of Allegiance and Order.

5. If passport is lost, an Affidavit of Loss, Police Report, plus same requirements as for new passport.

It is important that applicants provide contact information (e-mail address preferred) in the Application Form so the Embassy can send an email confirming receipt and approval of the Application and informing the applicant of the date and time of his appointment.  

ePassport Applicants are advised to be at the mobile site 30 minutes prior to their appointment.  

Applicants are no longer required to bring photographs since they will have their pictures taken using ePassport data capture equipment at the mobile site.  

When applicants show up for their appointment, they are to bring their original old/current passport and Postal Money Order for the ePassport service fee in the amount of AUD 118.00 payable to the “Philippine Embassy.”

Further queries on the Embassy’s Mobile Missions for 2013 may be addressed to the Passport Section at Tel. (02) 62732535 or 62732535 extension 231, Fax No. (02) 62733984 or Email address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  END